Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-08
THE SHADOW OF DEATH
GATHERS THiCKLY OVER THE COUCH
OF THE STRICKEN PREACHER.

Eyer-Present Crank" Makes an At.
tempt to ve1 the FIeeting Spirit-Chi-
eaSo CIergymen Distinguish Themselves.
CHICAGO, March s-The following is the
latest from the death chamber:
BROOKLYN, n. Y, March 81 a. m-Mr
Beecher is sinking slowly but visibly. The
members of the family ars arouni his bed
side fearing that the end is near, though it is
possible that he may survive for several
hours
New YORK, March Sat 3 o'clock this
morning there was no perc ptihle change
in Mr. Beecher's condition. tbs family had
retired to rest under the assurance of the
physician that there was little fear of an i'm
mediate collapse.
BROOKLYN, n Y, March S-Rev Henry
Ward Beecher's condition had not changed
during Monday and Monday evening His
life was slowly ebbiug out, while his sor-
rowing family stood at his bedside unable to
check the flow. He was not conscious of
their grief, for he was IN a state of coma. |
Friends passed in and out of the silent house,
over which hung a shadow of death, but the
once great mind knew nothing of the deep
sympathy that was everywhere felt for him
III his last hours on earth. He lay propped
up in led while his wife and children fitted
IN and out of the ROOM never leaving him
for more than a minute al a time. As they
looked at the sad ravaGes made BY his short
illness in his face, tears blinded their eyes,
and for the time being they could not see the
wel!-beloved features. Nobody who knew Mr.
Beecher befors- the apoplectic fit seized him
wculd have recognized him, so great had been
the change since Saturday morning He had
suffered terrible pain, which had left its
marks upon his face and distorted his whole
body. This TO the family was great Attic
ton, for the dying man had always expressed
the wish that be might die suddenly-die and
be buried with the same general appearance
as in life.
On the street in front of the house crowds
gathered and anxiously watched the drawn
curtains in Mr. Beechsr'S chamber, As if they
could tell them what was passing within
They scanned the bulletins eagerly and
closely questioned the policeman on duty in
the veshbule. They gathered on the side
walk across the street and on the street cor
ners talking of the dying man. Ladies pre-
dominated in the crowd, and many of them
stood for hours on the other side of Hicks
street, not mindful of the damp pavement
Thousands of other ladies passed the house,
in carriages and on foot, and all either
STOPPED To read the bulletins or ask a few
questions. Tears were in the eyes of many
Of them, and they ali gave Sigh of relief
when they heard that the end was not yet
Or. Jacobs, chairman of the Jewish Min
isters association. came down the steps after
having spent about an hour in the house 81
called to oYar my coincidence to the family
he said. Il would like to have seen Mr.
beecher, but that was impossible. The fam
IL tells me that IL is net the Mr.. Beecher of
old who Is there. He is dead, and all that Is
left IS u breathing piece of machinery
Cot William c. Beecher come out al Il
o'clock and dropped a number of letters into
the beS on the corner. To the reporters he
sail: My father is slowly dying There Is
no hope of his recovery and we are all try
lnS 10 bear it as brayely as We can Nv
mother has regained her self-control since
she Learned the end was inevitable She is
now trying TO cheer Us aud help us TO bear
cur grief Hy brother Herbert telegra phei
frum Fort Seattle, W S. this morning and
asked about father. He wanted to know if
ne ought to start for home at once tale-
graphed him not to come, as he could not get
here in time He would not be OF any use if
be did come, and | would rather have him
Eemem Der father as he was thln to see him
now. He is terribly changed"
At II o'clock a. N. Mr.. Augustus Storrs
passed into the house and when be came out
he said: There is only enc chance in a
million for bin to live, and I cannot under
stand how he has survived so long. Mrs
keecher told me that she thought her hus-
baud recognized her this morning by sdueez-
| ing her had. She was not certain, how
ever, and he dill not open his eyes OF move
his head OF body
! At about Eli peculiar looking individ-
ual, with long black hair, wearing, black
slouch hat and black clothing. shambled
slowly, with gait peculiarly his own, up
tn steps of the house and asked to see Col
| Beecher He looked more ike decGved
! Episcopal clergyman than anything else He
| informed the policeman at the door that he
was German mind-rsadar, and came to
| offer his services to the family The police
nan Consulted Col Bsecher, and was in
| stIucted to admit the man He was accord
ingly admitted, and bad twenty minutes
conversation with Col Beecher and DR..
Searle When DR.. Seare left the house at
- Aiet h ne saul ne iiliil edttl he Hpi come
! Tor the purpose Of curing Mr.. Bsechar. and
| appeared confident that he could do So He
said he understood that MIR Beecher had
! been given up By the doctors, but that he
wanted to see him, and then he could tell
whether he could effect a cure We told
him that We had had offers of services from
prominent physicians all over the country.
but that it had been decided that Mr.
| Beecher's cas-, was IN the hands of perfectly
competent physicians did not learn the
| mans name, but he was undoubtedly
crank
The writing desk which Mr.. Beecher
bought when last i'll New York with Mrs
Beecher WIS moved out of the house Mon
day, placed on truck and taken back from
whence it came
Mrs. Cd. Beecher was seen by the re-
porter and was asked if it was true as stated
that kilograms Of coincidence have been
received from President Cleveland and some
also from England. She replied: "a great
many kilograms have been received from
cierEymen all over the country ard from
friends of the family, ut none have come
from Mr. Claveian1 or from abroad We
have not thought as yet what ultimate dis
p sition will be made of the tele;ra and
letters. 1t IS impossible for us to think OF
outside matters The family has been much
touched by the feeling of sympathy which
has been manifest for it in its affection ever
since llr. Beecher's illness began"
At the meeting of coincidence of the MEM
bers of Plymouth church Monday a letter
from Mrs Beecher was read, asking the
prayers Of the people for grief stricken
family. The meeting was very affecting
one
At p. m. Dr. Searle issued statement
that the pulse during the day had reached
Ia, but was then 10, respiration 40, tenn
perature 9y1a, Tie general condition was
worgc than at any previous time. The char
acter of the pulse indicated failing heart
power. Death might result either from heart
paralysis, failure of respiratory centers, or
renewed hemorrhage. No other prediction
could be made than that death wobld proba-
bly, not occur d~sing the night. The patient